Man City 1-0 Chelsea

[NikkiCFC 8,300]

I think Ortega, Lewis, Stones, Ake, Kovacic, Nunes, Bobb, Doku, Alvarez are gona start all for them. Add 2 starters from last night. 

Edited April 18, 2024 by NikkiCFC

[robsblubot 3,595]

9 hours ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Yes agree to disagree, sorry there's no way I can endorse ''the opposition is literally everything'' 

On to the game, we need to carry on where we left off, not that worried about them having a lot of possession on the wide Wembley turf as long as we dont squander our breaks

 

You are right -- you are taking the statement literally, which is fair of course. I was definitely considering context tho, of the quality of our team vs the immediate opposition (past and present). As to make a point on how to read results and tone expectations. It was in response to 

 

I was specifically referring to Everton, and esp City, which are teams at the opposite end of the spectrum. That when the opposition is significantly *better* there is only so much you can do to improve your odds at winning; you can do everything right and still lose if they match your impetus for ex.
From Everton point of view, they did everything right in the first minutes: they won 50/50s, gained set pieces, and created chances against us (good ones too). Then Cole started nut megging players, which I suspect was really disheartening to them.

IMO, there is danger in underestimating what Cole did against Everton too; it was more than goals. He broke Everton midfielders with skill and skill alone. He will be more contained against better opposition, as well as because he's known now and will be tightly marked often.

Edited April 18, 2024 by robsblubot

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

38 minutes ago, robsblubot said:

You are right -- you are taking the statement literally, which is fair of course. I was definitely considering context tho, of the quality of our team vs the immediate opposition (past and present). As to make a point on how to read results and tone expectations. It was in response to 

 

I was specifically referring to Everton, and esp City, which are teams at the opposite end of the spectrum. That when the opposition is significantly *better* there is only so much you can do to improve your odds at winning; you can do everything right and still lose if they match your impetus for ex.
From Everton point of view, they did everything right in the first minutes: they won 50/50s, gained set pieces, and created chances against us (good ones too). Then Cole started nut megging players, which I suspect was really disheartening to them.

IMO, there is danger in underestimating what Cole did against Everton too; it was more than goals. He broke Everton midfielders with skill and skill alone. He will be more contained against better opposition, as well as because he's known now and will be tightly marked often.

Yes, I took it literally, because you said ''the opposition is everything, literally''. OK i get you now.

We wont play as we did v Everton anyway, Wembley is a different kettle of fish regardless of opposition, wide pitch, plenty of space. I'm hoping we get them on the break and will not be wasteful

[robsblubot 3,595]

28 minutes ago, Fulham Broadway said:

Yes, I took it literally, because you said ''the opposition is everything, literally''. OK i get you now.

We wont play as we did v Everton anyway, Wembley is a different kettle of fish regardless of opposition, wide pitch, plenty of space. I'm hoping we get them on the break and will not be wasteful

Maybe I had a teenager moment there... "literally." 😆

[ZAPHOD2319 4,804]

 

[Vesper 30,119]

22 hours ago, lucio said:

0% chance we win the cup. City will destroy us 

always the optimist!

🙄

[Vesper 30,119]

Levi Colwill set to miss Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City with foot injury

https://theathletic.com/5426395/2024/04/18/levi-colwill-injury-Chelsea-man-city/

Chelsea defender Levi Colwill is losing his bid to return from a toe injury in time to face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi final this weekend.

Colwill has missed Chelsea’s last six matches with the problem. The issue, which was eventually diagnosed as a metatarsophalangeal joint ligament injury, was first sustained against Crystal Palace in February but got worse following the 2-2 draw with Brentford a month later.

The England international, who had to wear a protective boot as part of his rehabilitation, started light training a few weeks ago and targeted making the showpiece occasion against Pep Guardiola’s side at Wembley Stadium.

But while the 21-year-old is making progress, it looks like the game is going to come too early for the centre-back to make the matchday squad. The Premier League games at Arsenal and Aston Villa next week are now being seen as more likely to make a comeback.

Colwill started Chelsea’s impressive 1-1 draw at Manchester City two months ago alongside Axel Disasi. But Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino seems set to have to choose between Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile and Disasi to line up in central defence against them on Saturday evening.

[lucio 5,418]

5 minutes ago, Vesper said:

always the optimist!

🙄

I was optimistic before the league cup and got burned for it , not fooling myself again whilst this loser is the coach 

[Reddish-Blue 2,495]

18 hours ago, MoroccanBlue said:

The fact we should be a lot fresher gives a lot of optimism. Cut out the individual errors and bring in the same ruthlessness up front like we saw against Everton, we should win. 

It would hurt so much more if we actually beat City, take momentum in the final....only to be given a lesson by Ten Hag and his boys in the final.   United will rock up for the final with only 1 game-plan, mark Palmer for the whole game and wait for counter attacks. 

United gets those 1-2 chances on the counter and bam, Garnacho/Rashford/Fernandes becomes a hero. 

[Reddish-Blue 2,495]

1 hour ago, lucio said:

I was optimistic before the league cup and got burned for it , not fooling myself again whilst this loser is the coach 

Exactly having Poch in a cup final is like starting the game with 10 men.   Where's the fear factor, where's the winning mentality supposed to come from? 

Just look at what Real Madrid did to City, they absorbed all the pressure, had 2-3 heart stopping moments when KDB should have buried the game, completed the 120 minutes and then got over the line on penalties.  

[milka 3,390]

Bottlechino will bottle again .  If he is serious he will drop Enzo .

Caicedo and Gallagher have better chemistry together  and on  that pitch on Wembley  you'll need running while Enzo is lethargic

[lucio 5,418]

3 hours ago, Reddish-Blue said:

Exactly having Poch in a cup final is like starting the game with 10 men.   Where's the fear factor, where's the winning mentality supposed to come from? 

Just look at what Real Madrid did to City, they absorbed all the pressure, had 2-3 heart stopping moments when KDB should have buried the game, completed the 120 minutes and then got over the line on penalties.  

True , there is 0 point any fans talking about trophies until this guy is sacked 

[ZAPHOD2319 4,804]

Haaland and Du Bruyne are doubtful for tomorrow.

[Vesper 30,119]

1 hour ago, ZAPHOD2319 said:

Haaland and Du Bruyne are doubtful for tomorrow.

I wager they both will play. This smells like Pep bullshit mind games. 

[robsblubot 3,595]

Agree, they will both play. Would Alvarez be such a downgrade from Haaland at this time? maybe at pure finishing inside the box, but an actual improvement in other areas too.

Edited April 19, 2024 by robsblubot